With the new BC pension legislation coming into effect September 30, 2015, Michael Peters, the BC Deputy Superintendent of Pensions, will present on the new legislative measures, including the introduction of target benefit plans and their related funding requirements, a mandatory formal governance policy and funding policy for defined benefit plans, and more.

In this session, Douglas Rienzo will speak on Canadian longevity risk transfer transactions. He will highlight legal issues that plan sponsors and their advisors should be aware of, as well as the mechanics of longevity risk transfer transactions

This session will highlight current SOA research of interest to Canadian pension actuaries. It will include highlights from a forthcoming study of the experiences of people who have been retired for 15–25 years. The study investigated major changes and issues retirees have confronted along the way, and how they have reacted. Focus groups were conducted with retirees in both Canada and the U.S. The session will also include findings from an investigation of the effectiveness of tax-deferred retirement saving.

12:30 – 14:00 Luncheon - Guest Speaker: Joannie Rochette

Overcoming Adversity
Six-time Canadian champion, world medallist, and Olympic medallist Joannie Rochette tells the inspiring story of her rise to global success in figure skating. Joannie describes the team work, passion, and competitive nature that she needed to rise to the top, as well as the obstacles she has had to overcome in her sport, including the tragedy that defined her bronze medal win at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

New Ontario laws governing the transfer of assets between registered pension plans took effect on January 1, 2014. These new laws have facilitated pension plan asset transfers that may have previously been too costly or impractical. However, asset transfers under these new laws are not without challenges.

Both Jordan Fremont and Paul Winnett will share their experiences assisting clients to work through asset transfers under Ontario’s new laws. Lynn Barron and Lindy Charles will discuss issues the FSCO encountered in reviewing asset transfer applications, and how they have been resolved.

The designated group established by the Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) will provide an update on its review of the pension commuted value standard of practice. There will also be a discussion of the research conducted on the commuted value discount rate liquidity spread.